Electric-wave-telegraph receiver.



PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

0. L. PORTIER. ELECTRIC WAVE TELEGRAPH RECEIVER. APPLICATION FILED APB. 17.1903.

attczmaao UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRlC-WAVE-TELEGRAPH RECEIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed April 17, 1903. Serial No. 153,125.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. Foarrnaa citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Wave-Telegraph Receivers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to wireless or electric-wave telegraphy, and more especially to receivers for use in connection therewith.

The purpose of the invention is to simplify the construction and operation of such apparatus.

The improvements are susceptible of being embodied in different forms having, however, the same general features or principles of construction and may be used either in direct connection With the Wave intercepter and ground or may be operated through a suitable induction device or a condenser or in connection with any suitable syntonizing device or means.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View, diagrammatic in its nature, of the receiving apparatus, the telephones thereof being arranged as a head-piece and worn by an operator; and Fig. 2, an enlarged view thereof, partially in section, better to show the construction.

I will first describe the apparatus embodied in a simple and preferred form in connection with the accompanying drawings and then explain its operation.

A and B designate the electrodes, the proximate ends of which are introduced into a tube or shield (J of glass or other non-conducting material.

D indicates a post or standard having an opening through it for the introduction of the electrode A, which may be adjusted in the post or standard and-secured in any desired position by a binding-screw a. The post D is provided with binding-screws 6 and 0 for the attachment of wires or conductors, as hereinafter mentioned. E indicates a second post or standard, also provided with an opening through which to pass the electrode B, the post being bifurcated at its upper end to receive an adjusting-nut F, which encircles and screws upon the threaded end of electrode B or a threaded extension thereof. The threaded portion of the electrode is also provided with a slot (Z to receive a feather or linger e, which holds the electrode against rotation while permitting it to move longitudinally as the nut F is turned in one or the other direction. By this construction I am enabled to adjust the electrodes A and B approximately to position in the first instance and thereafter to effect a nicer or finer adjustment of electrode B by turning the nut F in one or the other direction, as required.

The post E is provided with binding-screws f and g for the attachment of wires or conductors, as will be presently explained.

In practice I find it expedient to make the electrodes about live-eighths of an inch in diameter and of a metal (as iron or steel) capable of being magnetized. Between the proximate ends of the electrodes A and B is introduced a metal oxid L, preferably a magnetic oxid, granular in structure and advisably of uniform or substantially uniform grain. The separation of the electrodes may be varied. but should not be great-say approximately one-eighth of an inch, though this is merely suggestive and may be changed at will Within comparatively wide limits.

The oxid having been placed between the electrodes, the tube or shield 0 applied, and the electrode A clamped firmly in position by screw a, the nut F is adjusted to produce pressure upon the granules or particles of oxid lying between the electrodes, the degree of pressure being varied according to the judgment of the user or the particular conditions of use.

Gr indicates a wave-intercepter of any usual form and arrangement electrically connected to electrode A through the binding-screw b and post or standard D. Said post D (and consequently electrode A) is in turn connected by a wire or conductor it, held by the binding-screw c, with a telephone H or other translating device, said telephone being in turn connected by a wire 11 With one terminal of a battery I or other source of electric energy. Fromthe opposite terminal or pole of the battery a Wire passes to a second telephone J, which is in turn connected with electrode B by a wire Z2, held in binding-screw f of postor standard E, the post E and its adjusting-nut F affording the necessary electrical connection with electrode B. Post E, (and consequently electrode B,) battery I, and telephone J are connected by a wire l, held by binding-screw g, with a ground or capacity K.

As above stated, the electrodes A and B are preferably magnetized and the oxid employed is advisably a magnetic oxid. As a consequence, the magnetized electrodes attract the particles of oxid and hold them spread evenly over their faces. Better to insure the even distribution of the particles or granules, it is preferred to make the facing poles of the electrodes of like sign, or mutually repellent. By so doing the granules aredivided into two bodies each tending to repel the other. This assists in the self-righting process. The tube or shield C serves to confine and retain any loose particles which might otherwise fall from between the electrodes.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Proper adjustment of the electrodes having been made and consequent pressure applied to the oxid L, an initial or normal conductivity is secured, the conducting power increasing as the pressure increases and the resistance increasing or the conducting power diminishing as the pressure decreases. If the particles were left to lie loosely between the electrodes and without pressure, the resistance to the local circuit would be so great that incoming Waves would not sufficiently change or reduce the resistance to permit any of the local current to pass; but with the initial pressure the resistance is so far reduced that some of the local current may pass. A galvanometer included in the local circuit shows on the reception of the first waves a further reduction in the resistance of the circuit or an increased flow of the local current. A wavering motion of the galvanometer-needle follows with succeeding waves, and sometimes the waves accomplish a restoration to the initial conductivity, succeeding Waves again increasing the conductivity and reducing it at intervals. This double action serves to keep the receiver constant without tapping or jarring. The changes in the conductivity of the oxid affect the flow of the local current through the same and through the telephones, alternately strengthening and weakening the current, and sounds are consequently produced in the telephones corresponding to the duration of the waves received. These sounds,

clearly audible, are readily interpreted and afford a means of receivingand making intelligible the signals.

Of course instead of telephones other translating devices may be employed; but telephones are found eminently satisfactory. When arranged as shown in the drawings,

'they also render unnecessary the chokingcoils usually employed in apparatus of this character to prevent the oscillations set up by the transmitting instrument and which should pass through the electrodes A and B from passing over the local-battery circuit, and thereby weakening its effect.

In practice it is preferred to arrange the telephones H and J as a head setthatis, to mount them upon a band or carrier which, passing over the head, shall support and hold the instruments at the ears of the operator,

thus leaving the hands free for transcribing messages, arrangingswitches and connections, and the like.

Heretofore it has been customary to allow the granular particles to lie loosely between the electrodes, and pressure thereon has been studiously and, according to general belief, necessarily avoided. Means have also been provided in some instances to prevent oxidation of the particles when using a metal or metals. My plan renders unnecessary the care hitherto commonly deemed requisite in both these regards and produces a peculiarly constant receiver requiring no tapping, jarring, or other mechanical action or manipulation.

A clear distinction is to be noted between a body of granules of metal oxid and metallic particles having a film of oxid formed upon their surfaces, as in the ease, for instance, of broken steel beads partially and irregularly or unevenly oxidized. Vith granules of metal oxid a certain definite and essentially uniform action results, particularly if the oxid be magnetic, whereas with metallic particles having merely a film or skin of oxid more or less uneven such uniform and definite action is not obtainable.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is 1. A receiver for electric-Wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably mounted electrodes; particles of homogeneous metal oxid normally under pressure between the proximate exposed surfaces of the electrodes; means for producing and varying the pressure upon the oxid; and means for rendering the received waves intelligible.

2. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably mounted electrodes; particles of homogeneous metal oxid under pressure as a conducting medium between the electrodes; means for adjusting the pressure on the conducting medium; and means for rendering the received waves intelligible.

3. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably mounted electrodes; granular particles of homogeneous metal oxid under pressure between the electrodes; means for regulating the pressure on the oxid; and means for rendering the received waves intelligible.

t. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably-mounted magnetized electrodes; granules of magnetic oxid between the electrodes; and means for rendering the received waves intelligible.

5. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably-mounted magnetized electrodes, the proximate ends of which have the same polarity; a conducting medium between the electrodes; and means for rendering the received Waves intelligible.

6. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably-mounted electrodes;

means for rendering the received waves intel' lig'ible.

7. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably-mounted electrodes; a conducting medium composed of granules of homogeneous metallic oXid under pressure between said electrodes, whose resistance is decreased and increased intermittently by the received waves; and means for rendering the received Waves intelligible.

8. A receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, consisting of suitably-mounted electrodes; a conducting medium between said electrodes; a local circuit including said electrodes, conducting medium, telephone-receivers, and a battery, a telephone being located between the positive pole of the battery and one of the electrodes, and another telephone being located between the negative pole of the battery and the other electrode; a suitable wave-intercepter connected to one of the electrodes; and a capacity or ground connected to the other electrode, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a receiver for electric-wave telegraphs, the combination of two electrodes; an interposed body of finelydivided homogeneous oXid normally under pressure; and means for adjusting one electrode relatively to the other to produce and vary pressure upon the oXid.

10. In a receiver for electric wave telegraphs, the combination of two magnetized electrodes; an interposed body of finely-divided magnetic oXid normally under pressure; and means for adjusting one electrode relatively to the other to produce and vary pressure upon the oXid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

UHARLES L. FOR'IIER.

Witnesses:

PAUL F. J OHNSON, J. M. DOESBURG. 

